VP: Chavez undergoing tough and complex' post-op

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is undergoing “tough and complex treatments” following cancer-related surgery, his vice president said on Wednesday.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro said that Chavez “will finish his cycle of treatment for his illness at some point,” but he did not provide details.

Maduro recently returned from a trip to Cuba, where Chavez continues to receive medical care.

Chavez hasn’t been seen or spoken publicly since Dec. 10, when he traveled to Havana for the operation.

Venezuelans on both sides of the country’s political divide have been speculating about the socialist leader’s condition amid regular but vague reports regarding his health. He has overcome several complications, including a severe respiratory infection.

Chavez has undergone numerous cancer treatments in Cuba since June 2011, including surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatment. He hasn’t revealed the type of cancer or the exact location where several tumors were removed from his pelvic region.